A Study Of Martin Luther's Outlook On Music Value

This thesis takes as study object Martin Luther's outlook on music value, who is the reformist of the Reformation in Germany in the 16th century. Through the survey and analysis of current materials, on the basis of others' researches, to study it systematically by way of music historicology, music sociology and religious culturology. This thesis holds, the formation of Martin Luther's outlook on music value is closely relevant to his early life and education. The interaction of Luther's personal habit, belief and the social and cultural thought of trend at that time makes his outlook on music value take more irrational and mystical colors, as well as humanistic color. Luther's outlook on music value leaves much impression on Lutheran and musical culture of Protestant in Germany.This thesis expects to strengthen people's perceiving and understanding of the development of musical culture of Protestant in Germany since the period of the Reformation and the foundation of Lutheran through the analysis and research of the implications of Luther's outlook of music value, the features of thought and its historical significance, so as to offer some help to the case study of the Protestant musician and his pieces in the academic field in the future.This thesis firstly investigates Luther's early life and education tending to explore the background and reason of the formation of his outlook on music value, and then from historic materials summarizes the main content of Luther's outlook on music value, and taking which as the guiding line to check his musical behaviors during the Reformation. Continually by synchronic and diachronic investigation and comparison of relevant musical and cultural phenomena makes clear the features of Luther's outlook on music value and its historical significance.Thesis consists of four parts:The first part is the cultural background of the formation of Luther's music value,which part mainly illuminates the relationships between Luther's early school experiences and his hermit life and the outlook on music value.The second part is the theological interpretation summarizing the main content of Luther's outlook on music value, and having an initial interpretation of it according to the theological thought.The third part is the music achievement during the Reformation, which part illustrates Luther's outlook on music value and the influence of his theological thought to the Reformation.The forth part is the features of thought and the historical significance of Luther's outlook on music value, which part on the basis of the first three parts, in the grand background of the development of western musical culture, summarizes and evaluates the features of thought and the historical significance of Luther's outlook of music value.